You’re at the point where you’ve decided that you want to own a snowmobile, but the one thing that’s holding you back is the cost. After all, as I’ve talked about before here, these are heavy vehicles. With all that heft, surely comes a higher price tag, right? Exactly how much would you pay for a snowmobile? I researched to bring you the answer.
How much does a snowmobile cost? The average cost of a new snowmobile, from 21 models, is $9,929. The cheapest snowmobile is the 2019 Artic Cat ZR 120, which costs $2,849. The most expensive snowmobile is the 2019 Artic Cat ZR 9000 RR 137, which costs $17,199.
In this article, I’ll dive deep into snowmobile costs, illustrating the price range with real examples. I’ll also talk about whether it’s best if you go new or used for your snowmobile. Keep reading, as you’re not going to want to miss it!
What is the Most Expensive Snowmobile
As stated in the intro, right now the most expensive snowmobile (brand new) is the 2019 Artic Cat ZR 9000 RR 137, with a price of $17,199.
How Much Does a Snowmobile Cost (Real Prices Examples)
For the next two sections, I’ll be talking about buying a new snowmobile exclusively. As I said in the intro, these vehicles can run you up to almost $10,000, but that’s just an average, and a starting average as well.
What does that mean? You can’t go into snowmobile shopping expecting every vehicle you come across to cost $10k. It’s simply not realistic. To temper your expectations and help you get a feel for what’s out there, I dug around online for the prices of real snowmobiles on the market. Here are some prices to get you started.
Arctic Cat Snowmobiles Prices
- 2019 Arctic Cat Pantera 7000 XT Limited: $15,499
- 2019 Arctic Cat Bearcat 7000 XT: $14,599
- 2019 Arctic Cat Bearcat XT: $9,349
- 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 120: $2,849
- 2019 Arctic Cat XF 8000 High Country 141: $12,899
- 2019 Arctic Cat M 8000 Hardcore 153: $14,399
- 2019 Arctic Cat Lynx 2000 ES: $6,699
- 2019 Arctic Cat Pantera 6000 ES: $11,899
- 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 200: $3,949
- 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 RR 137: $17,199
Polaris Snowmobiles Prices
- 2019 Polaris Voyageur 550 155: $8,399
- 2019 Polaris Indy 120: $2,999
- 2019 Polaris SKS 850 155: $14,199
Ski-Doo Snowmobiles Prices
- 2019 Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme 800R E-TEC: $14,499
- 2019 Ski-Doo Tundra LT 600 ACE: $10,049
- 2019 Ski-Doo Skandic WT 550F: $9,499
- 2019 Ski-Doo Grand Touring Limited 600R E-TEC: $13,549
- 2019 Ski-Doo Grand Touring Sport 600 ACE: $9,749
Yamaha Snowmobiles Prices
- 2019 Yamaha VK 540: $9,349
- 2019 Yamaha Snoscoot ES: $3,999
- 2019 Yamaha SRX 120R: $2,899
What Makes Snowmobiles So Expensive
Are you surprised by some of the prices above? By the way, just to reiterate, yes, those costs are all for new 2019 vehicles. None are used. That may make you wonder, then. If the average price of a snowmobile is $9,929, then how can so many of these new ones cost less than $5k? Some are even less than $3k. How is that possible?
I’m glad you asked. To answer that question, let’s compare two snowmobiles on both ends of the price spectrum. The cheaper snowmobile I’ll talk about is the 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 120 for $2,849 new. The more expensive one is the 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 RR 137, which retails for $17,999.
The first main difference between the two vehicles is the intended purpose of both snowmobiles. The ZR 120 is a youth snowmobile while the ZR 9000 is a trail vehicle.
The snowmobiles are also sized vastly different. The ZR 120 has a dry weight of 167 pounds and a fuel capacity of 0.5 gallons or 1.9 liters. Its max ski stance is 30.5 inches. Further, the ZR 120 measures 34 inches tall, 36 inches wide, and 6.08 feet long. In other words, it’s a small but hardy vehicle meant for younger riders looking to own their first snowmobile.
Compare that to the ZR 9000, which has a dry weight of 598 pounds and a fuel capacity of 9.9 gallons or 37.5 liters. Its minimum ski stance is 42 inches and the maximum ski stance is 43 inches. The ZR 9000 measures 47.1 inches tall, 47.8 inches wide, and 10.42 feet long. It’s a lot heftier and heavier than the dainty ZR 120.
For your money, you get a better-made snowmobile. The ZR 9000 has a dual carbide skag and a plastic ski while the ZR 120 comes equipped with all plastic. The ZR 9000 also outperforms the ZR 120 in almost every way imaginable. Its lug height is 1.25 inches, its track width 15 inches, and the track length 137 inches. The ZR 120 has a lug height of only 0.75 inches, a track width of 10 inches, and a track length of 67 inches.
That’s due to the powerful engine outfitted in the 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 RR 137. It comes with a three-cylinder, four-stroke, horizontal in-line engine with a dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) configuration and fuel-injected carburetor. The starter is electric with a displacement of 998cc.
The 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 120 has a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine with an overhead valve engine (OHV) configuration. This engine includes a pull start with a displacement of 123cc and a standard carburetor.
Is any of this to say the ZR 120 is a bad snowmobile? No, not at all. It can’t stand up to the ZR 9000, nor should it have to. These are two very different snowmobiles used for different purposes. I just wanted to show you what you get when you pay more versus what you get when you pay less for a snowmobile.
New vs. Used Snowmobile Prices: Which Is the Better Deal
Speaking of paying more or less for a snowmobile, what’s the better way to save money? Should you buy a new vehicle or shop around for a used one?
It depends on what you’re looking for. A lot of the new snowmobiles that cost less than $5k are youth models intended for younger riders. As an adult, many of these snowmobiles would be too small for you.
That doesn’t mean you can’t ever find an adult-sized snowmobile for under $10k. The 2019 Ski-Doo Grand Touring Sport 600 ACE is a touring snowmobile that costs $9,749 new. It has two seats, a fuel capacity of 10.6 gallons, a dry weight of 515 pounds, and a max ski stance of 42.4 inches. The snowmobile is 50.2 inches tall, 47.9 inches wide, and 9.84 feet long.
The Grand Touring Sport 600 ACE includes a two-cylinder, four-stroke horizontal in-line engine with DOHC valve configuration. Its engine is on par with the ZR 9000 then, which costs over $6,000 more. While this engine has an electric pull start, it does get 600 CCs of displacement. Overall, that makes this Ski-Doo snowmobile an inexpensive pick.
The 2019 Arctic Cat Lynx 2000 ES is another touring snowmobile meant for adults. It’s even cheaper than the Ski-Doo Grand Touring Sport 600 ACE, as it sells for $6,699. While it has room for only one rider, the Lynx 2000 ES boasts a fuel capacity of 11.2 gallons, a dry weight of 494 pounds, and a max ski stance of 43 inches. It measures 49 inches tall, 48 inches wide, and 9.83 feet long.
Also, the Lynx 2000 ES has a two-cylinder, two-stroke horizontal in-line engine with a reed valve configuration. It uses an electric starter and has a displacement of 565 CCs. Is it as powerful as the Ski-Doo? No, but you’re also shaving about $3,000 off the price, so what can you expect?
While you can always go used, there are a variety of new snowmobiles available that are probably within your budget. Buying a used vehicle brings with it its own set of challenges. For instance, you have to find a reputable seller who’s willing to part with their snowmobile for a fair price. The snowmobile must be in good, usable condition.
I’m not saying to never go used, but if you can get a new snowmobile for a little more than $6k, it almost defeats the purpose of buying a used one.
That said, should you be interested in a used vehicle, I searched Snowmobile Trader to find you some prices. For a used 2019 Ski-Doo Renegade Adrenaline ACE 900, you’d pay about $8,900. A new ACE from the same year? That’s $11,149, giving you very meager savings.
Maybe you want an older snowmobile, like a 2018 Arctic Cat XF 9000 CrossTour. That costs $10,900 on Snowmobile Trader used. If you bought a new 2018 CrossTour, it’s priced at $16,199. In that case, it’s worth going used since you can save about $5k on your snowmobile.
I would highly recommend you do your homework then. If it makes more sense to buy new, then do that. If you can cut some serious money off your overall price with a used snowmobile, then you should strongly consider buying one.
Conclusion
As an average price, a $9,929 snowmobile might seem pricy, but I encourage you to shop around a little. You’ll soon find many snowmobiles that cost far less than that. Yes, many of the very cheap ones are youth models, that much is true.
However, you can find adult-sized, dependable new snowmobiles for under $10k if you look hard enough. The 2019 Arctic Cat Lynx 2000 ES costs $6,699 and the 2019 Ski-Doo Grand Touring Sport 600 ACE is $9,749.
Should you have more money to spend, you can also shop for large, high-quality snowmobiles for closer to $18k. One example would be the 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 RR 137.
No matter your budget, you can surely find a great snowmobile for you, new or used. Happy shopping!